Just before Veterans Day, Bethel-Tate High School proudly held the much-anticipated dedication of its Wall of Honor, a tribute to local veterans and first responders.
This special event marked the culmination of hard work, tenacity, and perseverance from many individuals, leading to the Honor Wall’s completion. Instrumental in this effort were 2024 BTHS graduate Sarah Munn, National Honor Society Advisor Jenny Benjamin, and members of the National Honor Society.
The dedication ceremony on Nov. 8, 2024, featured a color guard from the American Legion and other dignitaries. Principal George Sturgeon shared that the idea for the Honor Wall began several years ago. Fundraising had started, and discussions were underway - but then COVID happened, and the project was put on hold.
After the school returned to normal operations, the idea was rekindled during a conversation between Mr. Sturgeon and Sarah, then the Vice President of NHS, who approached him about a project. The Honor Wall was a natural choice.
Creating the Wall of Honor was a significant undertaking. Sarah recalled working with NHS members and Ms. Benjamin to develop plans, initiate fundraising, and partner with organizations like the Bethel American Legion, Lions Club, and VFW. They also collaborated with the Art Club on a mural design and began the extensive process of gathering names and photos of Bethel graduates who served.
“I’m really excited to be here and see how it turned out,” Sarah said. “I think it turned out great. It’s just an amazing way to honor everyone who served from here.” She expressed her gratitude to all who helped bring the project to life.
Director of Operations John Burns played a key role in the early planning stages, Mr. Sturgeon said. After his retirement last school year, Charles Napier stepped in as the new Director of Operations, taking on the project with enthusiasm. For Mr. Napier, completing the Honor Wall was personal.
“I’ve been in the military, and I believe this is a perfect way to honor our graduates who served and those who went before us,” he said. “This is a beautiful way to honor them and remind everyone that if not for the American soldier, freedom would be a lot less than what we have.”
Mr. Napier expressed gratitude to the many community/business partners who supported the project through their time, talent and/or treasure:
A&A Safety for the vinyl graphics
Steve Light construction for wall construction
Brian Webb for the finish woodwork and paint
American Legion for the plaques and cash donation
VFW for the cash donation
NHS fundraiser for the display monitor
Rick Thompson for the electrical work
Ms. Benjamin emphasized that the National Honor Society is still accepting names for the Honor Wall. NHS welcomes BTHS graduates to fill out this form for inclusion in the Honor Wall. Military pictures can be sent to the following email: nhs@betheltate.org. Make sure the name is provided with the pictures.